Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko (click here) has said that Turkey has handed five mobile military hospitals to Ukraine, which will be sent to the anti-terrorist operation (ATO) zone.
"I want to report the transfer of five mobile hospitals. You know that before this, we received them from the U.S., Australia and Canada. At the moment, it is very important that we have received the first five hospitals from Turkey," he said during the visit to the flagship of the Ukrainian Naval Forces Hetman Sahaidachny frigate that takes part in the common training with the Naval Forces of Turkey in the Sea of Marmara.
The hospitals will be relocated to the sectors of responsibility in the ATO area after the return of Hetman Sahaidachny frigate to Ukraine, Poroshenko said.
While Crimea may celebrate it's one year anniversary, there is something it has in common with Ukraine. It's economic downturn.
Ukraine has seen a very difficult year economically with inflation to 43 percent. It's manufacturing sector is in the eastern region. The civil war did great damage to the country and ultimately the people. This was the first year Ukraine did not purchase Russia natural gas. It received what it needed from Europe for 30 percent more than Russia charged them. The economy turned to agriculture and the sale of honey sold to the EU from a trade agreement. Ukraine sold all it's contract to Europe within the first months of 2016 with warehouses still full.
Though all the economic bad news though, Ukraine is resolved to maintain it's turn away from Russia. In that lies the question what will Ukraine do to return an economy with other countries? Turkey. Shipping and export costs from Ukraine is minimal.
For Turkey, it now has a neighbor it can rely at it's northern border. At a time when Turkey is finding militants from it's mountains, namely PKK, a sincere danger, having its northern border in peaceful waters is more than welcome.
Hopefully, Ukraine and Turkey can find economic common ground. It would help both countries. And if anyone in the neighborhood wants some honey on store shelves, Ukraine has the answer.
As to Eastern Ukraine, the Minsk II agreement still exists. It will up to the people of Eastern Ukraine to mend it's land while rebuilding it's manufacturing capacity. Those eastern towns should meet with the governing body in Kiev and arrange for a return of economic strength.
To note: Russia has placed economic restrictions on Turkey after the Russia jet was shot down.
March 14, 2016
Geopolitics (click here) often makes for strange bedfellows, and at times countries with little in common politically or culturally still form agreements and alliances that make strategic sense. This was exemplified last week, when Ukraine and Turkey signed a number of political, economic and military deals during Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko's visit to Ankara on March 8-9. Poroshenko noted that the key achievement of his visit was the strengthening of security and defense ties between the two countries, and he thanked his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, for his commitment to supporting Ukraine's territorial integrity.
The statement was a direct reference to Russia, the common rival bringing Ukraine and Turkey closer together. In Ukraine's case, Russia is backing the separatists in eastern Ukraine, while in Turkey's case, Russia is supporting the forces of Syrian President Bashar al Assad and enabling the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) in the Syrian conflict. Both Ukraine and Turkey have been engaged in indirect military combat operations against Russia and have seen relations their with Moscow deteriorate as a result....
There was still another car bomb in Ankara. It was attributed to PKK.
March 13, 2016
While Crimea may celebrate it's one year anniversary, there is something it has in common with Ukraine. It's economic downturn.
Ukraine has seen a very difficult year economically with inflation to 43 percent. It's manufacturing sector is in the eastern region. The civil war did great damage to the country and ultimately the people. This was the first year Ukraine did not purchase Russia natural gas. It received what it needed from Europe for 30 percent more than Russia charged them. The economy turned to agriculture and the sale of honey sold to the EU from a trade agreement. Ukraine sold all it's contract to Europe within the first months of 2016 with warehouses still full.
Though all the economic bad news though, Ukraine is resolved to maintain it's turn away from Russia. In that lies the question what will Ukraine do to return an economy with other countries? Turkey. Shipping and export costs from Ukraine is minimal.
For Turkey, it now has a neighbor it can rely at it's northern border. At a time when Turkey is finding militants from it's mountains, namely PKK, a sincere danger, having its northern border in peaceful waters is more than welcome.
Hopefully, Ukraine and Turkey can find economic common ground. It would help both countries. And if anyone in the neighborhood wants some honey on store shelves, Ukraine has the answer.
As to Eastern Ukraine, the Minsk II agreement still exists. It will up to the people of Eastern Ukraine to mend it's land while rebuilding it's manufacturing capacity. Those eastern towns should meet with the governing body in Kiev and arrange for a return of economic strength.
To note: Russia has placed economic restrictions on Turkey after the Russia jet was shot down.
March 14, 2016
Geopolitics (click here) often makes for strange bedfellows, and at times countries with little in common politically or culturally still form agreements and alliances that make strategic sense. This was exemplified last week, when Ukraine and Turkey signed a number of political, economic and military deals during Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko's visit to Ankara on March 8-9. Poroshenko noted that the key achievement of his visit was the strengthening of security and defense ties between the two countries, and he thanked his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, for his commitment to supporting Ukraine's territorial integrity.
The statement was a direct reference to Russia, the common rival bringing Ukraine and Turkey closer together. In Ukraine's case, Russia is backing the separatists in eastern Ukraine, while in Turkey's case, Russia is supporting the forces of Syrian President Bashar al Assad and enabling the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) in the Syrian conflict. Both Ukraine and Turkey have been engaged in indirect military combat operations against Russia and have seen relations their with Moscow deteriorate as a result....
There was still another car bomb in Ankara. It was attributed to PKK.
March 13, 2016
Ankara: Turkish authorities on Sunday (click here) declared new 24-hour, indefinite curfews for two mainly-Kurdish towns where Turkey’s security forces are set to launch large-scale operations to battle Kurdish militants.
Turkey has imposed curfews in several flashpoints in the southeast since August to root out militants linked to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, or PKK, who had set up barricades, dug trenches and planted explosives. The military operations have raised concerns over human rights violations and scores of civilian deaths. Tens of thousands of people have also been displaced by the fighting.
The governor’s office for Hakkari province, which borders Iraq and Iran, said a curfew would take effect in the town Yuksekova at 2000 GMT on Sunday, adding that entering and leaving the town would also be banned. The announcement came as news reports said dozens of tanks had been deployed to the town.
Soon after, authorities in Mardin province announced that a round-the-clock would take effect in the town of Nusaybin — on the border with Syria — at midnight.
Residents were seen leaving Nusaybin on Sunday, packing cars or heading toward the bus terminal even before the curfew was announced, the Dogan news agency reported. Some tanks were parked at a school ahead of the planned offensive, it said....
